Arizona State University Enters Partnership with BYU–Pathway Worldwide and BYU–Idaho

Contributed By Marianne Holman Prescott, Church News staff writer

23 May 2017

From left, BYU–Idaho President Henry J. Eyring, Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, and BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Clark G. Gilbert, after President Crow’s devotional address at BYU–Idaho on May 23. Photo by Michael Lewis.

The partnership was announced by BYU–Idaho President Henry J. Eyring during a devotional at BYU–Idaho on Tuesday afternoon, prior to Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow’s address (see related story).

“President Crow is a great friend of the Church and of people of all faiths,” President Eyring said. “He is also a great supporter of BYU–Idaho. He has inspired confidence in our innovations both on campus and online. President Crow’s shared vision for serving students has led to a formalized agreement between Arizona State University and BYU–Idaho. This agreement will allow Pathway Worldwide students who have taken BYU courses to seamlessly transfer to ASU to complete a degree.”

The partnership of the three educational entities will work together to facilitate the transfer of academic credits for students intending to complete a degree at ASU.

“ASU, BYU–Idaho, and BYU–Pathway share a common mission and purpose: to help students achieve their educational and career goals,” said President Crow in a press release. “We do that by bringing them into higher education and working hard to assure they are successful in the completion of their college degree—no matter where they start the process.”

Students will be able to begin their education at one of the partnering institutions and complete their education with the wider array of classes, majors, and degrees offered at ASU. Like the BYU–Pathway Worldwide program, administrators anticipate enrolling students to be nontraditional students, or those who are not likely to matriculate into ASU as a first-time freshmen.

“We are pleased to be partnering with ASU in ways that will increase access and opportunity for our BYU–Pathway students,” BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Clark G. Gilbert said. “ASU has been a great friend to our program, and we look forward to offering local options for students in Arizona who want to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Students who are enrolled in BYU–Idaho or BYU–Pathway Worldwide who are interested in transferring to ASU have two options.

They can participate in the Guaranteed Program for Admission, which is designed to be a cost-effective and time-efficient way to obtain a bachelor’s degree from ASU. The program is for students who have between 24 and 60 transferable lower-division credits and who have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average.

The second avenue is through earning an associate of applied science from BYU–Idaho; after completing the requirements, they will receive 60 credits in transfer credit toward a complementary bachelor’s degree at ASU.

“The strength of the relationship is that both ASU and BYU–Idaho are deeply committed to student success,” said Maria Hesse, ASU’s vice provost for academic partnerships, in a press release. “Our primary goal is to facilitate a seamless transition from one institution to the other so that students can pursue their personal and professional aspirations.”

Students who take advantage of the new partnership will have access to a transfer specialist and pre-enrollment services at ASU and will also be able to use many of the resources available to students enrolled at ASU.

Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow visits with BYU–Idaho President Henry J. Eyring and BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Clark G. Gilbert prior to the campus devotional on May 23. President Crow was the devotional speaker. Photo by Michael Lewis.

Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow shakes hands with BYU–Idaho President Henry J. Eyring and visits with BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Clark G. Gilbert prior to the campus devotional on May 23. President Crow was the devotional speaker. Photo by Michael Lewis.